June Recap

If you haven't been obsessively keeping tabs on our blog, I must say I'm neither surprised nor upset. So here are some posts of note from June, just in case you missed them ;D

Charlotte's review of The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins

Gabbi's review of Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Gabbi's review of The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Charlotte's review of Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Gabbi's review of The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Gabbi's review of Saving Ben by Ashley Farley (Blog Tour)

Gabbi's review of In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow (Blog Tour)

Gabbi's review of Fall From Love by Heather London (Blog Tour)

Top ten books featuring travel

Top ten beach reads

Top ten books on my summer TBR

Top ten books I've read in 2013 so far

The series continuation edition

Katie McGarry shares Noah Hutchins's guilty pleasure movies/TV shows

Character interview with Noah Hutchins

Book Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 435
Source: Purchased

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (Summary from Goodreads)

There are some people who enjoy Dessen, who will happily read her books, and who will gladly recommend those books to others. I am not one of those people. I adore Dessen. I will eagerly devour anything she writes, even if it's a post-it note reminding herself to do the dishes. I shove her books into people's hands and demand they read it now without even bothering to read the summary on the back. That being said, The Moon and More was not my favorite book ever written by her. This does not mean it was not as good as her other books, because that's not true. Her latest novel has everything readers know and love about Dessen: an authentic summer atmosphere, meaningful narration, and characters grappling toward self-discovery and change. It's the same high-quality work that Sarah always provides, it just didn't particularly work as well for me as some of her other novels. 

For one, I don't think I felt as emotionally connected as I would have liked. I liked Emaline; she was smart, stubborn, and, when she wanted to be, fierce. But I didn't feel like I struggled enough with her. So she and her boyfriend of three years broke up, and while I am glad that she didn't spend much time crying or moping, I didn't necessarily feel the appropriate amount of grief or maybe even regret. (No, there is not a love triangle no matter what the synopsis indicates.) Then her scumbag of a dad comes back into the picture and things get awkward but not dramatic enough. I wanted her blowing up and telling him what a crap basket he'd been as a father. But no, a few tense conversations that mostly felt unresolved to me. 

My biggest issue: Theo. A nerdy, optimistic, easily excited New Yorker, Theo sounds pretty cute, right? Well at first, I was like, "Hey, I could get behind this guy. He's not too bad." As the book progressed, though, he felt young, certainly not 3 years older than Emaline. Further into the book and he just seemed like an arrogant, close-minded snob. It was obvious that he was all wrong for Emaline, which was kind of the purpose. He was just a summer fling that she wasn't too serious about, even though she spent a large portion of her time with him. When both the readers and the narrator know that it is not a match made in heaven, though, it's hard to really hope for anything or to imagine all the possibilities. Though, of course, things do not stay this way, as Dessen wraps the book up amazingly and presents all the possibilities in the world. 

While these may seem like hefty complaints, the good qualities certainly outweighed them. There was still a great story unfolding and the beautifully harsh realizations that come with growing up. I loved the family dynamic in this book. Despite the fights and frustrations, they're family. They are there for each other and they love each other. I love me a book with good family values, and this book touches on that quite a bit. Also, I found the secondary characters immensely fascinating in their own ways and I would have loved a bunch more of all (well--most) of them. Benji, Morris, Daisy, Luke, her dad, Ivy. I wouldn't mind if she wrote books for each of them. And, duh, Clyde, who I was delighted had a pretty major part in this book. 

I was pleasantly surprised how much we learn about Colby in this book, seeing as Colby is pretty much the epitome of summer and a town that continuously enchants me. Readers get to see a bunch of new facets in Colby (and its residents) that make it so much more real than it was before. 

If you haven't hopped on the Dessen train yet, this isn't the book I'd recommend you buy your first ticket for (others may disagree). However, if you are a raging Sarah Dessen fan like myself, you need this in your hands now. It certainly has the Dessen charm and I was not disappointed by The Moon and More experience. 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Read:
The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen - Gabbi
In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow - Gabbi
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - Charlotte

Currently:
Saving Ben by Ashley Farley - Gabbi
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes - Charlotte

Next:
Fall From Love by Heather London - Gabbi

Wha'chu be reading? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

When I think of beach reads I imagine books that are easy to immerse yourself in, have a bit of humor in them, are relatively quick reads, and are mostly just light and fun. Not all of these books fit the description, but still. I also looked at my beach reads list from last year and tried not to pick the same books. 

1) School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
2) The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
3) Golden by Jessi Kirby
4) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
5) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
6) Just One Day by Gayle Forman
7) All Sarah Dessen books
8) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
9) The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
10) Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

 By 'beach read' I think I'll generalize it to a summer/holiday/light-hearted/fun/friends/romance read :) Though they're not all typical contemporary as I'm not reeeeeally a contemporary girl.

1) Falling Fast - Sophie Mckenzie
2) Boys Don't Cry - Malorie Blackman
3) Star-Crossed - Rachel Wing
4) The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen
5) Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
6) Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
7) Sam Cruz's Unfallible Guide to Getting Girls - Tellulah Darling
8) Candor - Pam Bachorz
9) Everneath - Brodi Ashton
10) Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Featuring Travel of Some Sort

1) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - Obviously, the form of travel in this book is a bicycle, which plays a really big role in this book. More symbolic than anything, I think. But, I just re-read this book (one of my favorite of Dessen's) and it was even better the 2nd time around. 

2) The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - All I have to say--motorcycle boys=NOM.

3) Just One Day by Gayle Forman - This book has all sorts of different travel in it. In fact, readers get to travel all over the world with this book! 

4) The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - From planes to cars to trains to feet to mind traveling, Rose goes on so many adventures throughout this series. (I just had to put this on my list. Just had to.)

5) Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols - A teenage girl who flies airplanes? Yeah buddy. 

6) Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - Another book that I just HAD to put on the list. Because it's frackin' awesome. There is a road trip at the end, sorta, so it counts! 

7) Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker - I think this is the only book I've read that takes place primarily on a boat. Love it! 

8) On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves - Plane crashes have never been sexier ;D 

9) Golden by Jessi Kirby & 10) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Both of these books feature a unique adventure (one by car, the other by plane) that made the books so much more realistic and meaningful. 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Already Scored A Home Run: 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau - Gabbi

The Rules by Stacey Kade - Gabbi

Currently At The Plate:

Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift by Elise Stokes - Gabbi

Next At Bat: 

Cassidy Jones and the Seventh Attendant by Elise Stokes - Gabbi

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen - Gabbi

What Time Is It? (Giveaway)

Summer time, duh!

Or...

I cannot be the only one super duper extremely excited!!

Uh, anyhow...
Summer is the season full of possibilities, lazy days, and (most importantly) shenanigans! In order to celebrate such shenanigans, I've decided it is time for a summer-tastic giveaway.

What's up for grabs? 
One lucky person will win one (1) summer release that either I've read and adored or I'm dying to read. This giveaway is available to all areas that The Book Depository ships to.
The winner may choose one (1) of the following books:

All I Need by Susane Colasanti | A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin |

Dare You To by Katie McGarry | Golden by Jessi Kirby | Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead |

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler | The Secret Ingredient by Stewart Lewis |

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith | You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle |

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols | The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen |

Five Summers by Una LaMarche | When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney | 

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West | Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt |


a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Fresh Out Of The Oven:
Erm...nothing. This is awkward.

Currently Baking: 
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
I've already read this, but it's summer; therefore, time to get my Dessen on!

Waiting On The Counter: 
The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

What are you reading? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Before Blogging

(If the book is the first in a series, then I mean the entire series, but I may have finished the series while blogging.)

1) Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 

2) The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

3) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - I have NO idea what I'd do if I never discovered this series. Pretty much my all time fave. And to think, I only picked it off the shelf in the grocery store because it has the word "vampire" in the title. 

4) Uglies by Scott Westerfeld - This was one of those series I loved before I even liked reading. I think it's the first series I ever re-read. 

5) This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen - This is my favorite Dessen book, to this day. 

6) Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - This is my second favorite Dessen book, to this day. I remember staying up all night sprawled on my brother's living room floor reading this. 

7) The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han - I stayed up all night reading this one as well...ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. I finished it on the bus to school, and my friends told me I'm crazy. But it's okay because ALL THE FEELZ.

8) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - Okay, so the first book wasn't the best thing that ever happened to me, but this series in general is one that has claimed a spot in my heart for a long time to come. 

9) Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - This is one of my guilty pleasure series. It's not, like, mind-blowing or anything, but what can I say other than that I enjoyed the series?

10) City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

And Nova decided to do her thang on her blog today, so you should most definitely give that a look-see: 

Nova's Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Boyfriends

I think a universal fact about book junkies is this: We connect to characters. We dive head first into their (most of the time) screwed up world, read their thoughts, hang on to their feelings. Sometimes we laugh with them, sometimes we cry for them. There are some characters we can't wait to see again, others we hope get their head crushed by a pirate riding a unicorn (which are totally okay thoughts to have about fictional characters). Most importantly, those characters steal a little piece of our souls whether we say it's okay or not.

I could prattle on about fictional characters for the rest of my lifehours. Especially fictional characters of the male variety. So this was a deliciously tortuous topic for me. Picking between my fave YA hotties is like trying to pick a favorite song or food and I'm like "OMG THERE ARE SO MANY I LOVE." I did my best, guys. I swear.  ~Gabbi

1) Link from the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - Link is the kind of guy, that if he went to my high school, I would become his best friend and secretly pine for him, maybe without even realizing it. He has such a laid back, go-with-the-flow personality. He is a great friend and has a huge heart. Not to mention the goofiest sense of humor. 

2) Alex Sheathes from the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver - Alex will literally do anything for love. He's just so...beautiful. A lot of guys are sexy and funny and awesome, but Alex is just beautiful. 

3) Noah Hutchins from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - OMG OMG OMG Noah. I don't even know what to say. He both fits the stereotypical badboy and yet completely obliteratres it. He's got so many issues and he just needs a hug. Maybe some kisses. I could give him some kisses...ya know, if that's what he needs....

4) Dexter Jones from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen - Dex is just the sweetest and the goofiest and one persistent little turdnugget. Not to mention he is in a band that writes song about potatoes! 

5) Dimitri Belikov from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - Dimitri is the kind of guy that I would probably literally swoon over. He's a badass in a fight, and yet he has the gentlest touch. He can sweep you off your feet with a gaze and deliver a harsh truth in a beautiful and wise way. He is a model citizen for upstanding morals, but sometimes he has to make decisions that seemingly fight those morals. I just love him, okay. I'm sighing just thinking about him. 

6) William Herondale from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - I honestly don't think I have words for William Herondale. My heart clenches when I think about him. He's just so perfectly imperfect. 

7) Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Augustus is another one of those guys I can just see going to my high school and me developing a ginormicus crush on. He is smart and funny and the weirdest sort of wonderful. So full of life and passion. 

8) Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - Glitter. Rainbow leather pants. Cat eyes. Bisexual. Immortal warlock. Come on now. 

9) Adrian Ivashkov from the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead - He doesn't need an explanation. He just doesn't. But I'll give you this because I am in a generous mood: 

“Yeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot. Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill. But it'd be cool if the biker skeleton could be shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire.”

10) Adam Wilde from If I Stay and its companion Where She Went by Gayle Forman - Nomalicious musician. Need I say more? 

RUNNER UPS: 

Because I am an awful person and could not stop at ten. 

~ Jace Herondale from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instrument series

~ Simon Lewis from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instrument series

~ Jase from Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door

~ Archer Cross from Rachel Hawkin's Hex Hall series

1) Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games) - I'm slightly obsessed... I even have a Finnick necklace!!

2) Joshua (The Other Life) - He's perfect. He's brave, he's warm, caring, he's flawed. (My boyfriend, I called dibbs.)

3) Denver Beck (The Demon Trappers) - Ooffft. He's so damaged but yet still so gawjjjjj! <3

4) Cole (The Wolves Of Mercy Falls) - He's a rogue. Hot, funny, kind, a typical lad but also part wolf, could you ask for more?

5) Liam (The Forsaken) - Gahhhhh, he's so beautiful :') *mouth waters*

6) Four (Divergent) - He's Four, I don't need to explain.

7) Alex (Hunting Lila) - He's just hot... Sexy, protective and again hot... The perfect 'You're my brother's best friend and I really shouldn't kiss you but I juuuuust might have to.'

8) Chris (Star-crossed) - He's your worst enemy but still your Romeo. <3

9) Jack (Blood Red Road) - He's just... Jack. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders but still manages that damn sexy attitude.

10) Rafa (Shadows) - He just has that... way about him that lures you in!

RUNNER UP:

Patch from Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Kay people, not gonna lie, I have a thing for Bad Boys. I don't know, it's just me. I find scars, tattoos and an arrogant personality kind of hot, and it gives me a reason to hit the guy. :P If you haven't noticed, almost all guys are bad boys. It's just kind of how I roll. They're all really dark, mysterious and have a reason to pull you in. They've also got amazing stories in their past that sometimes, you just can't expect. I can't give you an individual explanation because they're all so close together, even though some of their true personalities are miles apart.

1) Wolf - Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

2) Daniel - Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

3) Daemon - Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

4) Warner - Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

5) Damen - Evermore by Alyson Noel

6) Travis - Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

7) Noah - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

8) Four - Divergent by Veronica Roth

9) Jace - The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

10) Ryan - Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy

1) Richelle Mead - I actually haven't read any of her adult stuff, simply because I haven't gotten my hands on any of it. But I pretty much worship her, I have a whole drawer in my entertainment center dedicated to her YA books. 

2) Lauren Oliver - I haven't read her MG stuff yet. But lemme jus say, if I could pick one author to write like, it would be Lauren Oliver. She is AMAZING.

3) Sarah Dessen - Nuff said. 

4) Cassandra Clare - Though I would love her to branch out of the Shadowhunter world, I do adore everything she has ever written. Girl has a way with characters and plots. 

5) Jenny Han - ALL DA FEELZ!

6) Katie McGarry - I can't even use words to describe what Katie McGarry does to me.

7) John Green - I've only actually read 1 of his novels, but, uh, WIN.

Those are the only authors I know of whose writing I have utter faith in. What about you? 

Quote Impressions: The Art-y Contemp Edition

These quotes are from books that have some sort of artistic influence in them, be it the main character or a painting in a house. 

“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.” - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

“I guess love's kind of like a marshmallow in a microwave on high. After it explodes it's still a marshmallow. but, you know, now it's a complicated marshmallow.” - Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

“I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them.” - Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen 

“Friends are how God apologizes for your family." - Zero by Tom Leveen

“'You can't beat yourself up anymore,' he says. 'And you can't compare your thing to my thing or to anyone else's thing on the how-bad-should-I-feel? scale.'” - Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Authors I Want to Own - Sarah Dessen

Authors I Want to Own is a feature here at BookBreather that highlights authors who I want to "own,"

 meaning I want to read and own every YA book he/she has written.

The first author I want to own is a doozy--Sarah Dessen.
All the titles link to their Goodreads profile. Italicized titles mean I've read the book, underlined means I own it.

The Truth About Forever
Just Listen
This Lullaby
Along for the Ride
Lock and Key
Someone Like You
Dreamland
Keeping the Moon
What Happened to Goodbye
That Summer


So, I've read every Sarah Dessen book. Now it's just a matter of owning them. I've been scouring used book stores and incredible deals. I'm on my way!

Are there any authors YOU want to own? What's your progress with that?

Cover Compare (1)

Cover compare is a feature on BookBreather where I, well, compare covers. :D It might be covers from different countries, or maybe just original vs. redesign, etc. I know this is something done on several other blogs so I do not claim originality. I did not get the feature or the title from any specific blog.

Guys, I looooooove Sarah Dessen. I have deemed her as the contemporary queen.And I've always loved how authentic her covers felt, and how true they seemed to the books. When I found out all her novels were getting redesigned, I was admittedly upset about it. Some of them, I do like. Others...not so much. I mean, they're all gorgeous, but some of them just feel so generic. On the left will be the old covers, and the right will hold the new. All titles link to Goodreads. 

Along for the Ride

My vote: Old cover. 

I can feel a budding romance just jumping out at me. Along for the Ride is one of my favorite Dessen novels because of the depth and excitement in Auden and Eli's relationship. I see all of that in the first cover. The new one? Not so much. 

Just Listen

My vote: New cover. 

In the new cover, I can see Annabel waking up just to find solace in Owen's radio show. She's all alone on her bed, but you can tell that she's escaped to somewhere else. 

Dreamland

My vote: Old cover

This is one of Dessen's darker novels about a girl who gets abused by her boyfriend. The old cover really expresses the haze she was trapped in, and the way that lone person is walking on the dock shows not only Caitlin's isolation, but also the way she has disconnected from the world. The new cover seems like an adorbz love story to me.

Keeping the Moon

 My vote: New cover

Keeping the Moon is about a girl that majorly branches out. When Colie goes to Colby for the summer, she certainly doesn't expect it to be all that fun. But she ends up making great new friends and scoring herself a cute guy. This novel was fun and the new cover definitely embraces that excitement in ways the old cover does not. 

That Summer

 My vote: Old cover
That Summer was the first book I ever read by Sarah Dessen, therefore it's been quite a while since I've read it, but as far as I know this novel is not about romance. This is ultimately a coming of age story for a girl named Haven. She has to face family issues, and, more importantly, face the truth. It's about a girl learning to  come to terms with her life and herself. It's about a girl struggling to find freedom in her life and wishing things could go back to how they used to be. While the new cover displays a feeling of Haven watching her sister's multiple relationships from a distance, the old cover presents the feeling of a girl who seeks freedom from the beach.

This Lullaby
My vote: New Cover
This Lullaby is not only my favorite book by Sarah Dessen, but one of my favorite contemps of all time. So it might come as a surprise to know I don't really care for either of these covers. I don't feel like either of them properly represent the book and exude all the feelings that the pages contain. I picked the new one because it is more accurate. The song "This Lullaby" is not only the title of the book, but a theme and a symbol in the book. It was the song that Remy's dad wrote for her before going AWOL. It represents all of Remy's relationship and trust issues. So the guitar is much more accurate than a paper heart.

Lock and Key
My vote: Old cover
I think it's weird that the girl is just kind of holding out the key in the new cover. It feels forced. The old cover feels lonely and confused. Crazy how many emotions you can get from a pair of legs and a necklace, but I can practically hear the contemplative thoughts running through the girls head in the old cover.

The Truth About Forever

My vote:....I don't know

I like the little wishbone on the bracelet in the new cover, but the old cover has a "He loves me, he loves me not" thing going on which is pretty true to most of Sarah Dessen's books. 

Someone Like You

 My vote: Neither
I don't lie either of these. I said I didn't like the covers for This Lullaby but this is a stronger dislike. If I hadn't already read the book, I would not get even close to the right idea about these books. First of all, Someone Like You is not a romance. It's more about friendship than anything. So the first cover is out. And the new cover reminds me more of a dystopian novel than one about a pregnant teen.

So, those are my thoughts on the new covers. What are yours? Are there any particular ones you like or dislike? How do you feel about the whole redesign? I'm really interested to see how people feel about this.